Avalanche Forecast

Issued: Jan 13th, 2023 4:00PM

The alpine rating is moderate, the treeline rating is moderate, and the below treeline rating is low. Known problems include Wind Slabs.

Avalanche Canada mbender, Avalanche Canada

Email

Wind slabs are the main concern. Winds switching direction have formed wind slabs on all aspects.

Summary

Confidence

High

Avalanche Summary

Recent avalanche activity has been limited to wind slab avalanches to size to size 1.5 in alpine terrain.

Snowpack Summary

Recent southerly wind and light amounts of snow have fed wind slabs formation in lee terrain features near ridges. Moist snow or a hard crust is found below around 900 m and on solar aspects.

Weak layers that were reactive over the Christmas and New Year's period have shown signs of bonding and gaining strength. These include a surface hoar layer buried on Dec 28 found 40 to 60 cm deep and a facet layer buried on Dec 23 found 60 to 100 cm deep.

Weather Summary

Friday Night

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries, accumulation 3-8cm. Moderate southerly wind. Treeline high temperature around -3 with a temperature inversion possible.

Saturday

Mainly cloudy with flurries, accumulation 2-5cm. Moderate to strong south and southwest wind. Treeline high temperature around -2.

Sunday

Mainly cloudy with isolated flurries. Light south winds. Treeline high temperature around -4 °C.

Monday

Mainly cloudy with scattered flurries. Moderate south winds. Treeline high temperature around -4 °C.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • Exercise caution on steep, unsupported slopes.
  • Carefully evaluate steep lines for wind slabs.

Problems

Wind Slabs

An icon showing Wind Slabs

Winds switching from southerly to northerly over the past several days have formed wind slabs on all aspects.

Aspects: All aspects.

Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.

Likelihood

Possible

Expected Size

1 - 2

Valid until: Jan 14th, 2023 4:00PM